Gripping mechanism.



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WITNESSES C. A. MORRIS.

GRIPPING MEGHANISM.

APPLIQATION FILED APLZQ. 1909.

Patented Nov. 15, 1910.

4 SHEETS-SHEET l.

INVENTR G. A. MORRIS.

GRIPPING MEOHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED APB. 29. 1909.

Wjw@ Patented Nov.15,191o.

' l 4 'SHEETS-SHEET 2.

7a2 l ZJ, i l

TI'ORNEYS C. A. MORRIS.

GRIPPING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 29. 1909,

Patented Nov. 15, 1910.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

l lli/VEN TUE UrZesAJorrs Il TTOHNEYS Wl TNESSES C. A. MORRIS.

GRIPPING MEGHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 29. 1909.

Patented Nov. 15, 1910.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

TTR/VEYS ENTTE STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES A. MORRIS, E MONTGLAIE, NEW JERSEY.

GRIPPING MECHANISML Specication of Letters Patent. Patented NOV. 15, V1910.

Application'led April 2 9, 1909. Serial No. 492,882.

' the same being especially adapted for use in connection with an aerial track, such as vthe tracks used in apparatus for hoisting, conveying, loading and unloading materials of all sorts, but it is not desired to'contine the invention to systems of the character specified, for the reason that my gripping mechanism may be employed in any apparatus embodying a movable carriage adapted to travel on a relatively stationary track.

Among the novel features of my invention are the following: First, means for positively operating in opposite directions and simultaneously the shoes which engage with the respective faces of a track, whereby great power may be brought upon the shoes for securing the required gripping engagement of said shoes with the track; second, means for bringing the carriage to a full stop and locking it rigidly in position relative to the track by permitting the carriage, when its motion is first checked, to have a limited sliding travel on the track, and then bringing it to the full stop b y the action of brake devices which are brought automatically intoservce subsequently to thc initial checkingof the carriage; third, means for adjusting the gripping shoes relative to the carriage and the track in order to compensate for wear due to the frictional engagement of said shoes with the track; and. fourth, means for regulating the throw of the lever which actuates the shoes of the gripping mechanism.

The invention may be embodied in varions constructionad forms adapted for use 'in conjunction with an elevated track. and said track may be eithera stretched cable, such as is used' in long span cableways, or as a clianneled beam, the latter being employed for loading and 'unloading work. Furthermore, the slices of the gripping mechanism, in certain forms of the invention, may be positioned for Acopera-tion with the top `and bottom faces on the toot flange of a c a'nneled beam, nr with the respective sideed'qes on the foot iange of such a beam, ori with the respective faces of the web forming an integral part of the beam.

h In the accompanying drawings Il have illustrated'diiierent practical embodiments ofthe invention, but the constructions shown therein are tobe understood as illustrative,

only, and not as defining the limits of the invention. f

Figure 1illustratesmy invention in connection with a cableway. Fig. 2 is an enlarged view 1n side elevation illustrating the invention adapted for acableway of the type shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of a modified form of the invention adapted for the cableway of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the invention especially designed Vfor use in conjunction with a chan neled beam adapted to'serve as a track for the .traveling carriage. section, partly in elevation, the plane of the section being indicated by the dotted line 5---5 of Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a horizontal section, certain of the parts being in plan, the plane of the section being indicated by the dotted'line 6 6 of Fig. 4. Fig. 7 is an elevation, partly in section, on the line 7-7 of Fig. 8, illustrating a preferred construction of a carriage for the cablewa Fig. 8 is a cross section on line 8-8 o f Fig. 7, certain of the parts being shown in elevation. Fig. 9 is a section on line 9 9 of Fig. 10, certain parts being in elevation illustrating another embodiment of the invention adapted for a cableway. Fig. 10 is avertical cross section, partly in elevation, on line 10-10 of F ig. 9. Fig. 11 is a fragmentary detail view illustrating an adjusting and locking means for the cam shaft in the Iconstructions shown in Figs. 2. and 3. Fig. 12 is a detail cross section through the locking and adjusting means of Fig. 11. Fig. 13 illustrates another embodiment of the invention wherein the shoes of4 the gripping mechanism are Fig.' 5 is a vertical adapted for engagement with the respective vfrom the carriage, and is controlled by cable, C. Carriage, B, is provided with rollers or shoes, b, b', which run on track cable, A2,.

and '.aid carriage is equipped with sheaves,

b2, over which runs the operating cable, C,

one length of said cable ext ndingupwardly from the bucket, skip or sling, over one pulley, bz, thence over a pulley, c, mounted in tower, A, and thence running downwardly to a drum, o', whereas the other length of the cable runs upwardly from the bucket, skip or sling over the other sheave, b2, thence'to the left in Fig. l over and around a pulley,

c2, in tower, A',thenc`eto the right over pulley, Q3, in tower, A, and thence down to adrum, c4. As will presently appear, carriage, B, is provided with a gripping mecha-- nism which is operated by a line or cable, D. one end of which is anchored, as el, to one-of the towers, as A', from which point of an- .chorage the cable extends to the gripping mechanism to beoperated in carriage, B, and thence runs over a pulley, d', mounted in tower, A, from whence the operating line runs to-a lever, D', having means for locking the same in position. as'shown in Fig. 1. This generalV construction of the cableway is the same as disclosed in a prior ap lication tiled by me on the 3d day ot' llf arch,`

i909, Serial No. 481,065, for an invention appertaining to Hoisting and conveying mechanism.

Iwill first describe my invention as' embo'died in a carriage adapted to travel on a track 'formed bv a channeled beam, E, as illustrated in Figsft, 5 and t) of the drawings. In this'connect'ion it is desired to state -that the gripping mechanism of the carriage in said form of construction is adapted for engagement with the upper and lower faces ot' tbe inot' flange, e. tex-ming a partof said channeled beam, li). but it ia not desired to limit the invention to an organization of parts wherein the shoes engage wi-th said faces ot the foot lange, tor the reason that the gripping mechanism may engage with the respective side edges ot' the foot flange, assbown in Fig. lll, or said gripping mechanism may 'be so arranged that its shoes will engage with the respect-ive faces of the web, e', forming a part of said channeled beam. as illustrated in Fig. '13.

Carriage, B', in the constrnctimi ot' Figs. 4 to 6 inclusive, consists of side members,

f, f', having upstanding arms, 2, side plates, f3, and end members, f, said slfde plates and end members being united to the side members, f, f'. The upstanding arms, f2, of the carriage frame extend above bottom flange, e, of the channeled beam, and in these arms are secured the stub axles, g, of the carryin wheels, G, the latter being adapted to trave upon the'upper faces of the foot flange, e, and on the respective sides of web, e', of channeledbeam, E, as shown more particularlyin Fig. 5, whereby the carriage is adapted t travel lengthwise of said channeled beam. Side members, f, of the carriage frame su port bolts or stub axles, hv, an on the stu. axles are ,loosely mounted the sheaves, b2, adapted to receive operating cable, C, the 4latter acting to support, the bucket, skip or slingC', as in the constructionof the cableway illustrated in Fig. 1.-

lI designates a' cam shaft which extends' transversely through -side plates, f, of the carriage frame, and is disposed below the track atfordedby channeled beam, E. A This cam shaft is provided with cams, and i', z", the cam, z', being intermediate between the two other cams, i', the end ortions of' said cam shaft, I,. bei'ng journa ed in the carriage frame. The camsfof'saidshat, 1, l

operate Vthe shoes, J K, K', of the gripping mechanism simultaneously, the' shoe, J, being moved in a downward direction by cam, z', at the same time thatshoes, K, K', are moved in an u Ward direction by cams, 'i',z", of said shaft, Said shoes, K, K', are disposed at the respective sides of the carria e and positioned for engagement w-ith tie upper face of foot flange, e,'said shoes being provided in their lower faces with Wear plates, k, the latter being composedof metal, wood or any othermaterial which will se'- cure good frictional engagement of said shoes with the upper face of the foot flange. The shoes are provided with 'de ending members, le', which are formed Witi openings adapted to receive cams, z", z", whereby said cams of the shaft, I, will operate on shoes, K, K', to raise or lower tbemaccording to the directon.in2 whichshaft, `I, is turned. The depending members` la', of said slices, K, K', are provided with slots, k2, and in these slots operate the guide fingers, j, of shoe, J, said sboe'being positioned between tbe side members of t'hecarriage and adapted for engagement with the underface of foot liange, e, see Fig. 5. Shoe, J, is provided in its upper face with wear plates, j', of wood, metal or other material adapted to secure good frictional contact between the shoe and the t'oot flange of the channeled beam, and .said shoe, J, is pr'ovided, furthermore, with a'dependiug member, i2. the latter having an opening ior the. reception of cam, z', on shaft, I.

It will be noted that shoe, J, is slidably tion on the track.

" and'under certain conditions. said weighted engaged with depending Vslotted parts of shoes, K, K', so that said shoes are kept in proper coperative relation by sliding engagement with each other, and by the snug tting of cams, z', i', with the depending parts of said shoes.

The gripping mechanism thus far .de-4 scribed 'is operated by. appropriate mechanism for the purpose of releasingit from tirm engagement with the track afforded by the channeled beam whereby the carriage may travel freely in one direction or the other on said 'track ;but the operating 'mechanism is adapted, also, to so operate the shoes of the gripping mechanism Athat the carriage will be held in a stationary posi- Itis preferred to provide an operating mechanism for the carriage grip which tends normally to release the shoes fromengagement with the channeled beam, but when the carriage 'is to. be held at rest or 1n a locked position in relation to said beam, thegripper releasing devices will be rendered inoperative temporarily, andthe shoes, J, K, K, forced into tight frictional engagement with said beam.

vL designates. a weight adapted by gravity to open the gripper and release theshoes from the beam. Said weight is shown in Fig. 6 as itted slidablyron an arm or lever,

1, which is keyed or oherwise made fast to one end of cam shaft, I. The weight is provided with a binding screw, Z', for holding it at any desired adjustment on arm or lever, l,

arm turns cam shaft, I, so that its cam, z',

' will depress shoe, J, and cams, i', will raise the null or strain of a line or cable, D. The

shoes, K, K', thereby opening the gripper by removing the shoes from frictional contact with the beam, so that the carriage will travel freely on said beam. To the other end of cam shaft, I, is secured an operating lever, M. said lever being fast with the cam shaft and adapted to move the same under weighted arm, is preferably disposed at one side of the carriage whfle the opera* ing varm or lever. M. is at the other side of tl'le carriage, see'Fig. G. The arm or lever. M, .is forked at its. free' end, as at m. and provided with a keeper, m', and in this-forked end of the lever is a pulley or stub axle. m2, which supports a guide sheave, M', beneath which extends operating line or cable,E D. Said cable is guided over sheaves, n, rn', and

beneath a guard. 11F, in such manner that a cable, D, is anchored at one end to a tower or other fixed anchorage, extends to the carriage so as torun over sheaves, a, n', and below sheave, M', of operating arm, M,and from said lever the operating line extends to and over the direction pulley, d', as in Fig.

1, so that said line may be attached. to an .strain is imposed on theoperating line or cable by the action of lever, D', or its equiv-` alent, the bight, D2, of said cable will raise arm, M, and turn the rock shaft,` in a direction which will .cause its cam,'z', to raise shoe, .Lvwhile its cams, i', will simultaneously depress-shoes, K, K,.there by closing the grip er and forcing its shoesinto tight' i frictiona engagement with t-he track, whereby said carriage will be locked in aixed position on, and by frictional engagement with, beam, E.

The shoes and wear plates of the gripping mechanism are subjected to .considerable vwear owing" to the slidingengagement of said wear plates with the channeled beam,

and in order to preserve the shoesin proper coperative relation to the beam, and thereby compensatefor the wear on the opposing surfaces of the beam a'nd the shoes, I employ means whereby the shoes may be adjusted relatively vto said beam by adjusting the camshaft, Lin its bearings. Said adjusting means is shown in Figs. 4, 5 and 6 'in the formaof gears, N, N', which are provided with sleeves, n3, said sleeves Ming fitted on the end portions of shaft, I, extel riorly to cams, 1, z". Said sleeves enter the openings of frame, B', and operate as bearings for said camshaft. Each gear, N, and its sleeve, n3, is provided with an opening eccentric to the axis of the gear, and through the openings of the two gears, N, N', pass the end portions of .-liaft, I, w'hereby said gears, N, N'. are mounted eccentrically on the end portions of the cam shaft. lVith each gea-r, N or N. meshes another gear, 0, shown more clearly in Figs. 11 and 12. Said gear, O, is provided with a polygonal extension, o, of its hub, and said gear is mounted loosely onthe 4fixed bolt, O. secured in the side plate, f, ofthe carriage frame. The bolt extends outwardly from the frame so that the gear, O. and its hub extension; may be mounted loosely on the bolt.l where- ,by gear, O. is adapted to mesh with eccen-4 tric gear. N, and the polygonal extension, 0, of said gear, O. is exposed for access. thus enabling the operator to applv a Wrench or other implement to the extension. 0. for the purpose of turning the gear, O, and its comthuschange the position of shaft, I, in car--v riage frame for the purpose of, imparting the necessary slight adjustment to the `gripper shoes in order to bring them closer to the faces of the channeled beam, whereby the shoes are adjusted to compensate for wear,

a'fter whichl the shaft adjusting devices are held rigidly in place b v the locking nuts, o'`, the shaft, I, being free toturn in the sleeves.

71.3, of the eccentric gears, N. N', when said shaft is rocked by the weightedv arm, Z. or

the cable operated arm, M, as will be readilyv apparent from the foregoing description taken in connection with the drawings.

The operation of the invention as thus far described in connection with Figs. 1. 4, 5 and 6, may be summarized briefly as follows: Assuming that carriage, B, is locked on the track at a point where the bucket, skip or sling is tobe loaded, or has been loaded, the first step is to set one drum, c', or 6*, into operation for the purpose of elevating the bucket, skip or A4ling and the load to the desired point with respect to the carriage. The operator now releases the operating device, D, and slackens the operating.line,-D, whereupon the weighted arm, Z, turns cam shaft, I, and cam i, operates shoe, .I5 to move it downwardly with respect to the under-face of beam, E, and simultaneously with such movement cams, z", of said shaft operate shoes, K, K', tomi-aise them, thus simultaneously moving shoe, J, in an opposite direction to shoes, K, K. The carriage isthus released, and the continued pull on the cable causes the carriage and theload to travel along the track until it reaches the point of discharge', the sheaves, '11., n, and M', running freely with relation to the slack operating line, D. IVhcn the carriage and its 'load reachesI the point of discharge, the operator moves lever, D', to place tension on the operating line, D, and lever, M, is thereby drawn upwardly for the purpose of rocking shaft, I, and operat ing the shoes of the gripping mechanism, whereby the carriage is again'locked in a stationary position ou the beam, whereu ion cable, C, is slackcned and thc load is tischarged in a well known manner. The other drum is now driven by the engine or motor for the purpose of operating cable, (l, and hau-ling thc carriage and the bucket back to the point where said bucket will be reloaded,

and these operations are repeated during the continued service of theapparatus.

In Figs. 2, 7 and 8 of the drawings I have illustrated my invention embodied in carriage, B2, adapted for operation on the track cable, A2, of a cableway embodyingthe general features illustrated in Fig. l. Said carriage, B2, is of skeleton construction, and as shown, it is provided with the carrying wheels, Z, b', adapted to travel on the cable, At. 'l'he carriage is provided, also, with sheaves, be, for accommodating the carriage operat'ingcable, C, and the btlcke,sliip or sling. 'lhe frame of carriage, B", is provided with depending substantially parallel frame plates, o, which are secured firmly at their upper ends to the top rails or bars of said carriage, B2. At their lower ends the depending frame plates, b3, are providedwith. stay plates, b, and in these stay plates b, and the frame plates, b3, are loosely tte the sleeves, n3, o'f the eccentric gears, N', N', serving as the bearings for the cam shaft, I; For the ready assemblage ofthe parts, said cam shaft is shown in Fig. 8 as consisting" of complemental sections, l', which are sepa-- rably locked together by a suitable joint, i.

- Said shaft, I, isprovided at its middle portion. with cam, z', adapted to operate the sheave, P, which serves the purpose of the lower shoe, J, in the construction of F 5 and 6, said sheave, P, being loosely mounted on the cam portion, z', of said shaft, I, so that the sheave will turn freely on the Shaft and be adjusted relative to track cable, A2, by the operation of the shaft, I. As in the construction of Figs. 4, 5 and 6, shaft, I, is turned inone direction by weighted arm, Z, attached to one end porti0n`of the shaft for the purpose of releasing the shoes from gri ping engagement with track cable, A2. o the other end portion of said cam shaft, I, is rigidly secured arm, M, which is provided at its free end with keeper, m', and with sheave, M. The top rail of carriage, B2, is provided with other sheaves,jn, n', and with guard, m?, and-over these sheaves, n, n', pass the operating cable, D, formed into abight or loop engaging with sheave, M', whereby lever, M, may be raised, and shaft, I, rocked in order to apply the slices of the gripping mechanism, said shoes in the construction of Figs. 2, 7 and 8 being in the form of a wheel, l. heretofore described, and of other wheels, l, l", now about to be described. 'l`he upper sheaves. wheels or slices, as they may be variously termed, indicated at P', I, are mounted in an auxiliary frame, Q, slidably fitted in carriage frame, B2, said .fi-amc, Q. having depending members, q,

which are engaged at their lower ends with the cams, i, i', of shaft, I. The lower wheel, sheave or shoe. l. is soppositioned that. its axis is in a vertical plane intermediate the vertical planes of the axes of rotation of the upper wheels or shoes, P', as shown clearly 1n Fig. 7, whereby lower wheel or shoe, P, engages with the under side of cable A2, whereas upper wheels, P', P', engage with the upper surface of cable, A2, so that the cable will be deflected slightly between the points of engagement of shoes. P, P', P', when pressure is applied to said shoes for the purpose of gripping the cable. The wheels or shoes, P, P', P', are grooved in order to properly engage with the track cable, and when shaft, l, is rocked or turned by the tension of operating line, D, acting on the arm or lever', M, the cam, a', raises shoe, P, upwardly and cams, i', z", depress frame, Q, and force the upper shoes, P', P', downwardly, thus making the shoes grip the ltrack cable. It is found, however, that the Vwhen said shoes are in the form of rollers or sheaves mounted for free rotation in the carriage. In the embodiment of the inveii tion shown in Figs. 7 and 8, the braking de vice is represented as a brake member, R. mounted in sliding frame, Q, intermediate the shafts of upper wheels or shoes, P', P'. The underface of brake member, R, is curved at 1', see Fig. 8, and this curved face is in a horizontal plane above the curved peripheries of wheels or sheaves, P', P'. Normally the brake member. R, is free from engagement with track cable, A2, as in Figs. '7 and 8, but when cani shaft I, is operated to raise the lower sheave, P, and depress the upper sheaves, P', P', said track cable is 4slightly deflected iii an upward direction and the brake member, R, is brought forcibly into engagement with said track cable, whereby the brake member supplements the action of the gripping mechanism in arresting the carriage and locking it firmly upon the track cable.

The carriage, B3, illustrated in Fig.. 3 ofv the drawings embodies the general features of my invention, as heretofore described in connection with Figs. Q, 7 and 8, but instead of operating lever, M, directly by the bight or loop, D2, of operating line, D, as in the devices heretofore-described and shown in Figs. 1, 2, 4, 5, G, 7 and 8, I provide toggle mechanism intermediate the biglit or loop, D2, and lever, lli, whereby an increased throw may be given to said lever and to the cam shaft. As shown, lever, M. is pivoted at its outer end to a link, S. and the otherwise free end of said link is pivoted at s to another link, S', said link, S', being pivoted -at s' to a member of the carriage frame, B3.

'The pivotal pm connecting links, S, S',

serves as the shaft vfor roller, M', beneath which -passes the looped portion, D2, of the operating line, D. When the operatin line 1s made taut, by the operator moving Pever, D', as heretofore described, the pull of the loop or bight, D2, on sheave or. roller, M', will raise the links, S, S', to the dotted line position shown in Fig. 3, the upward and forward movement of link, S, being arrested by a stop, s2, which is fixed to frame plate, b3, of the carriage. The toggle mechanism will operate lever, M, and shaft, l, to secure an increased movement orthrow as compared with the devices of Figs. 2, 7 and 8 and Figs, 4, 5 and 6, whereby the cams of shaft, I, will operate the shoes of the gripping mechanism and cause them to engage firmly with the track cable. llVhen the pull on the operating line, D, is slackened, the

action of weighted lever, Z, on cam shaft, l, will return the lever, M, and links, S, S', and sheavef, M', to their normal positions, shown in full lines inFig.V 3.

The form of the invention shown in Figs. 9 and 10 embodies the generic features of the construction shown in Figs. 7 and 8,but l have simplified the construction by employing two sheaves, P2, P3, instead of the three sheaves illustrated in Fig. 7. The lower slieave, P2, is mounted directly on cam, z', of shaft, I, so that it will engage with the underside of track cable, A2, but.

the upper sheave, P3, is in a sliding frame,

consisting of the side members, Q2, which engage with cams,z", z", of shaft I. The side members of said sliding frame are pro vided at their upper parts withislots, Q2, in which are disposed slidable boxes, qa, supporting the shaft, 793, for upper shoes, P5, said boxes being normally disposed 'in the slots by springs, g4. Set screws, g5, mounted in the upper ends of frame members, Q2, regulate the tension of springs, g4, so as to force the shoe or sheave, P3, into contact with theupper portion of 'track cable. A2. Side members, Q2,.of the frame are adapted to be reciprocated by cams, 2", of shaft, I, and when said members are drawn downwardly, slieave or shoe, P3, engages with the cable at the same time that cam, z', presses shoe, P2, also into engagement with the cable, but a continued movement of shaft, I, turns the cams, i', so as to ifurther depress the frame members, Q2, and bring into action certain braking` devices subsequent to the engagement of the sheaves or shoes with the cable, A2. The brake surfaces referred to are in the forni of segmental flanges, Q3, which are provided on the upper opposing faces of frame plates, Q2, as shown in dotted and full lines in Figs. 9 and 10. The sheave orshoe, P3, is provided with flanges, Q4, eX- tending sidewise therefrom, and these flanges are in the vertical planes 'of the brake elements, Q3, so Ithat on the downward movement of frame'plates, Q, brakeI forms of gripping mechanism heretofore described, I employ a grip composed of movable jaws, T, T, pivoted at t on the carriage and operatively engaged with the respective cams of shaft, I. Said jaws extend up- Wardly onthe respective sides of web, e, forming a part of beam, E, and the jaws are provided with shoes, t', having wear plates,

t2. The cams of shaft, I, operate jaws, T, T', so as to forcibly apply the shoes into frictional engagement with the respectivefaces of'web, e, and by associating the gears, N, N, and O, with cam shaft, I, in the manner hereinbefore described, I produce a si1nple and eiiicient gripping mechanism wherein the parts may be adjusted to compensate for Wear dueto the frictional engagement of wear plates, t2, with the' web of the channeled beam.

In Fig. 14 the pivoted jaws, T, T, are shown as having hooked shaped shoes, t3, adapted for engagement with the respective edges o'f the foot flange, c, of the channeled beam.

Fig. 15 illustrates a gripping mechanism of substantially the form shown in Fig. 13 adapted for use in conjunction with the track cable of a cablcway system. larriage, B5, and cam shaft, I, are similar in construction to the corresponding devices of the various figures shown and described herein. Jaws, T2, T3, are pivoted at t3 on carriage, B5, and are engaged at their opposite ends with the canas of shaft, I. Said jaws are provided with sheaves or shoes, II. Il', mounted in the jaws for engagement with `t-he respective sides of cable. A2, and said sheaves or shoes are provided with brake surfaces, u, adapted to be yengaged b v brake surfaces, u, of the jaws, T2, T, TWhen the jaws are closed by the action of the cams on shaft, I, roller shoes. U, engage with the cable, and as said roller shoes'are yieldably mounted in the jaws. said shoes are adapted to be repressed for thc brake surfaces, u, to engage `with the brake surfaces, u', thus ar resting the roller shoes from rotation and providing an eflicient brake and gripping mechanism for holding the carriage in a sta.-

tionary position on the track cable.

It 1s desirable to provide means for regulating and changingthe positionoftheV leiter arm, M, with respect to the cani shaft, I, and

and screwed on said bolt, W, is a nut, w', adapted to clamp the gear, VV, rmly on the arm, M, meshes with the gear, V, which is keyed on shaft, I. vWhen it is desired to change the relation of the cable controlled arm, M, t0 the cam shaft, I, nut, lw', is partly unscrewed from bolt, W, and the arm, M, is then moved to the required position, gear, W, traveling idly over gear, V. The lever having been adjusted as required, nut, w, is tightened on the bolt and gears, IV and'V, are thus locked' in position so as to retainsaid arm, M, in the desired relation to cam shaft, I, whereby the arm and cam shaft may be rocked or turned as a unit, being connected rigidly by the locked gears,

what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In an apparatus of the class described, an aerial track, a load-supporting carriage adapted to travel thereon, a power cable for operating the carriage in either directlon on the track, gripping mechanism supported by said carriage for cooperation with the track, and a cable for operating said gripping mechanism and at a point distant from the carriage, whereby the carriage may be held stationary relative to the track and at any point of its travel thereon.

2. In an apparatus of the class described, an aerial track, a load-supporting carriage adapted to travel thereon and to support a load extending below the track,l gripping meclanism supported by said carriage for cooperation with said track. means associated` with said gripping mechanism for normally releasing it from engagement with the track. and cable-operated means for closing the gripping` mechanism whereby the carriage may be held in a fixed position on the track.

3. In an apparatus of the class described, an aerial track. a carriage adapted to travelv thereon, a power cable for operating the carriage in either direction relative t -the track, gripping mechanism support Egli the carriage, and means for operating t e gripping L mechanism at a point distant from the car- WV, and on this bolt is an adjusting gear, W', .80

against the arm, M. The gear, VV, mounted l Having thus fully described the invention,

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riage, said gripping mechanism includingj oppositely movable shoes adapted for engagement with the track and a cam shaft connected with said shoes for operating the same.

4. In an apparatus of the class described, an aerial track, a carriage adapted to travel thereon, a power cable for operating the carriage in either direction on the track, gripping mechanism supportedon-the carriage for engagement with said track, means foroperating said gripping mechanism to release it from the track, and a separate cable adapted for closing the gripping mechanism into frictional engagement. Wlth the track.

5. In an apparatus of the class described, an aerial track, a carriage adapted to travel thereon, gripping mechanism supported on the carriage for engagement with said track, means for operating said gripping mechanism to release it from the track, separate means adapted for closing the gripping mechanism into frictional engagement with the track, and a manually controlled operating cable associated With one of saidP means whereby the gripping mechanism may bencontrolled at a point distant from said carriage. f

6. In an apparatus of the class described, an aerial track, a power operated carriage adapted to travel thereon, 4gripping shoes' supported on the carriage and adapted for` engagement With said track, and a single cani shaft coperating with said. shoes foroperating the same to apply and release the gripping mechanism.'

7. In an apparatus of the class described, an aerial track. a carriage adapted to travel in either direction on said, track, gripping shoes supported on the carriage and adapted for engagement With said track, means for operating said gripping shoes, and separate means for adjusting said shoes to compensate for Wear.

8. In an apparatus of `the class described, an aerial track, a carriage adapted to travel thereon, a power cable for operating the carriage in either direction, grippingv shoes supported on the carriage and adapted forA engagement with the track, a cam shaft for operating said shoes, a separable cable operatively connected to the cam shaft, and separate means for adjusting said shoes to compensate for Wear.

S).4 In an apparatus 'of the class described, an aerial track, a carriage adapted to travel thereon, a power cable for operating the carriage in either direction, gripping shoes supported on the carriage and adapted for engagement with said track, a cam shaft for operating said shoes, a separate cable operatively connected With the cam shaft, and means for adjusting the cam shaft to compensate for Wear on the gripping shoes` 10. In an apparatus of the class described, a carriage, gripping shoes supported on the carriage and adapted for engagement with a member to be gripped, a cam shaft for operating said shoes, gears cooperating with said cam shaft, said gears being eccentrically positioned with relation to said cam shaft, and means for locking said gears in' adjusted positions relative to said cam shaft.

11. In an apparatus of the class described, a carriage, gripping shoes supported on the carriage and adapted for engagement With a member to be gripped, a cam shaft for operating said shoes, gears coperating With said cam shaft, said gears being eccentrically positioned with relation to said cam shaft, and other gears meshing With the first named gearsfor adjusting the same and the cam shaft whereby the shoes may be adjusted relative to the track to compensate for Wear.

12. In a-n apparatus of the class described, a carriage, gr1pping shoes supported on the carriage and adapted for engagement with a member to be gripped, a cam shaft coperating with said shoes, a Weight for operating said shaft, and cable o erated means as-" sociated with the shaft or operating the' latter in opposition to said weight.

' '13. In an apparatus of the class described, a carriage, gripping shoes supported on the carriage and adapted for engagement withv a member to be gripped, a cam shaft coperating with said shoes, a Weight operating normally to release the. gripping shoes, an cable operated means coperating with the cam shaft for closing the shoes into gripping engagement with the track.

14. In an apparatus' of the class described, a carriage, a plurality of gripping shoes adapted for engagement with apmember to be gripped, means for operating said shoes, and brake mechanism operating to supplement the gripping action of the shoes in arresting the carriage.

15. In an apparatus of the class described, a carriage, a plurality of gripping shoes adapted for engagement with a member to be gripped, means for operating said shoes, and brake mechanism operated subsequent to the gripping engagement of the shoes with a track and supplementing the action of the gripping mechanism in arresting the carriage.

16. -In an apparatus of the class described, a carriage, a plurality of gripping shoes adapted for engagement with a membereto be gripped, means for operating said shoes, and brake mechanism operated by the shoeoperating means and adapted for operation conjointlv with said shoes in arresting the travel of the carriage.

17. In an apparatus of the class described,-

.a carriage, a plurality of roller gripping' shoes, means for operating said shoes, and brake mechanism coperating with a shoe for arresting the rotary motion thereof and eeperating With the shoes in arresting and locking the carriage.

18. In an apparatus of the class described, a' carriage, a group of roller shoes adapted for engagement with a member to be gripped, means for operating the slices, and

vthe slice-operating means.

20. In an apparatus of the class described, a carriage, a group of shoes positioned or engagement withv the respective sides of a lmember to be gripped, means for operating the slices, and a brake member intermediate certain of the shoes and acting coiijointly therewith in controlling the carriage. `2l. In an apparatus o 't` the class described, a track, a carriage, gripping mechanism supported on the carriage, means for operating said gripping mechanism, a lever ce operating with said means, and an adjusting device for regulating the position of said lever relative to its axis of motion.

22. In an apparatus of the class described, a track, a carriage, gripping mechanism supported on the carriage, a shaft coperating with the gripping mechanism, a lever for operating the shaft, and an adjusting device for shifting the lever relative to said shaft, said adjusting device operating to retain the leverin its adjusted relation to the shaft.

23. In an apparatus of the class described,

a carriage, gripping mechanism on said carto lock said Icarriage to the track, and a separate cable for actuating said gripping mechanism.

25. In an apparatus of the class described, a'n aerial track, a carriage adapted to be reciprocated thereon, power operated mechanism for reciprocating said carriage, gripping mechanism forlockin the carriage to the track, and means Where y said gripping mechanism may be operated at a distant point from the carriage.

2G. In an apparatus of the class described, l

an aerial track, a carriage adapted to be re- Aeiprocated thereon, a power cable for reciprocating said carriage, gripping mechanism mounted on the carriage and adapted to lock said carriage to the track, a separate cable anchored at or near the limit of travel of the carriage in one direction, and means for placing tension on said separate cable, said separate cable being associated With the gripping mechanism for operating the latter, said carriage being movable relative to the separate cable.

In testimony whereof I have signed my naine to this specification in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

CHARLES A. MORRIS. lrVitnesses H. I. BERNHARD, Jas. H. GRIFFIN. 

